London: Russia beat Lithuania 83-74 in the quarterfinals of the 2012 London Olympics men’s basketball event on Wednesday.
Andrei Kirilenko led Russia with 19 points and had a game-high 13 rebounds, while Timofey Mozgov added 17 points.
Russia will play either France or Spain in the semi-finals on Friday, Reuters reported.
Mozgov said: “It was a physical game. Lithuania, they’re a physical team.
“They were strong. The whole game was tough. We had to fight for rebounds, had to fight for position all game. Everybody’s tired now but it was a good game.”
Russia led 17-10 in the first-quarter, and Kirilenko took over in the second quarter to allow the Russians to carry a 32-27 lead into the intermission.
Lithuania shot a poor 33 percent and Russia was not much better, connecting on 37 percent of their attempts, while making only 5-of-14 foul shots before halftime.
“We were playing great and then we go to the free throw line and we can’t throw a ball in the ocean,” lamented Russian coach David Blatt.
Kaukenas scored 19 points to lead Lithuania, who made one last push to close within five points at 74-69 with two minutes left before Russia secured victory from the foul line.
“That was a boxing match, and I’m glad we were able to finish ahead on points, not by knockout, for sure,” said Russia coach Blatt.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription